Many people have a hard time taking systems view when it comes to managing projects. Why do you think this is the case? What do you think can be done to help people take systems view?  Do you think it’s harder to manage an IT project or a traditional project, such as building construction? Why? Justify your response.

Many people have a hard time taking systems view when it comes to managing projects. This is because people tend to focus on immediate or superficial problems, rather than the underlying, systemic issues that are causing them. Additionally, people often have limited bandwidth to consider the larger picture, as they are too focused on their own tasks and deadlines. To help people take systems view, it’s important to encourage collaboration and cross-functional communication.

 Encouraging discussions and brainstorming sessions that involve representatives from different departments can help to surface larger systemic issues that might otherwise go unnoticed. Additionally, providing training on systems thinking and problem-solving can help team members develop the skills necessary to take a more holistic view of projects (De Meyer et al., 2017). Ultimately, it’s important to create a culture that values and prioritizes systems thinking, which can help ensure that projects are managed more effectively and efficiently.

When it comes to comparing managing an IT project and a traditional project (such as building construction), the difficulty level can differ based on various factors. Both types of projects come with their own unique set of challenges that can make them tough to manage. However, IT projects are often bound by constantly-evolving technology and can require a greater degree of precision in execution as compared to traditional projects (De Meyer et al., 2017). On the other hand, traditional projects, like building construction, often have tangible, physical products that require a certain level of expertise in project planning and execution.

Ultimately, the complexity of IT projects can make them more difficult to manage given the constantly shifting technological landscape while traditional projects, with their physical components, can provide greater visibility and accountability throughout the construction process. Therefore, it is important to have a balanced approach and utilize project management tools and techniques that are well suited for either type of project.

Reference

De Meyer, A., Loch, C. H., & Pich, M. T. (2017). Managing project uncertainty: from variation to chaos. IEEE Engineering Management Review, 30(3), 91. https://doi.org/10.1109/emr.2002.1032403